March 1, 2012

CENTERVILLE, Mass. – Richard Stockton College (20-8) will serve as host to the 2012 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Metro Men’s Basketball Championship including top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology (20-7).  The semi-final round will begin on Saturday, March 3 with the championship concluding on Sunday, March 4.  Saturday’s games will begin with second-seeded Richard Stockton facing No. 3 Brooklyn College (18-9) at 4 p.m., with Stevens facing No. 4 Mount Saint Mary College (21-7) at 6 p.m.  The ECAC Metro championship game will take place at Richard Stockton at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Stevens averaged nearly 80 points per game this season, thanks to the scoring prowess of junior guard Sheldon Jones and senior forward Simon Smith.  Jones leads the team with 18.4 points-per-game while shooting 50 percent from the floor.  Smith has contributed 17.9 points-per-game and 12.2 rebounds-per-game while shooting 62 percent.  Sophomore guard Matt Skrelja came up big in the quarterfinal against Baruch College with a career-high 20 points. Stevens improved to 20-7 with the win and have now won 20 games in back-to-back years for the second time in program history. 

Richard Stockton defeated Medgar Evers College 85-73 on Wednesday and will serve as host for the weekend tournament.   The Ospreys are led by the play of junior forward Bill McDonough, who contributes a team leading 9.1 rebounds to go with 14.2 points-per-game.  Senior forward DiAndre Brown leads the team in scoring with 14.8 points-per-game. Four players finished in double figures in the quarter-final and Richard Stockton had 23 assists on their 35 baskets for the game.  Junior guard Darnell McCargo set a career high with 22 points in the win.

Brooklyn College advances to the quarterfinals, led by the strong play of senior guard Tyshawn Russell.  Russell led all scorers in the 93-80 quarterfinal win over Rutgers University Newark with a game-high 26 points, while going 11-for-13 from the free throw line.  Russell averaged 21.6 point-per-game on the season, and also contributed 76 assists and 105 rebounds.  Senior forward Amil John has also been a strong contributor, providing 17.8 points and 6.6 rebounds-per-game.  The Bulldogs have averaged 75.8 points as a team this season.

Mount Saint Mary College got its 21st win of the season in the 73-62 ECAC quarter-final win over New Jersey City University.  The Knights got a boost from the hot shooting of sophomore guard Joe Stabach, who hit eight three-pointers for a game-high 24 points in the win.  Stabach (13 ppg), senior forward Carlos Valdez (15.1 ppg), and senior forward Kevin Milella (12.6 ppg) all average double figures in scoring for a balanced attack that scores nearly 80 points-per-game.